Laurel Park takes over lake bed property

Mark ToddTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 12:00 a.m.

The town of Laurel Park has gained control of an overgrown 6.6-acre tract on Lake Drive. The town's goal is to clean up the property next to Laurel Park Villas this spring and maintain it as a nature park, Mayor Henry Johnson said Tuesday.

Because the property was set aside as a natural area when the condominium development was approved, it can't be developed, Johnson said. It essentially has been abandoned, he said.

Johnson said town attorney Sam Neill looked into several options through which the town could acquire the property, each with advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, Neill recommended the property be acquired through a process called adverse possession, Johnson said.

The process allows the town to claim the property with a quit-claim deed, maintain it and post signs on the site. Signs have already been erected on the property, the mayor said.

Years ago, there was a lake at the site, known as Rhododendron Lake or Laurel Park Lake, that was "the focal point of recreational and social life in Laurel Park," Johnson said.

Old pictures show the beach, slide and diving platforms, pavilion and an inn.

The mayor said that in the early 1980s, the developers of Laurel Park Villas acquired the lake and surrounding property to meet Laurel Park's zoning density requirements, then six units per acre.

As the condominiums were built, shares in the lake property were deeded to the owners and offered to other property owners surrounding the lake. Later, the lake's dam was breached because of its deteriorated condition, high cost to repair and threat of fines from government agencies.

To enhance and maintain the appearance of the lake bed property, a nonprofit corporation, Lake Park Association, was formed in the mid- to late 1980s. Owners were asked to deed back their shares in the lake property to the association, Johnson said.

Many but probably not all owners did so, Johnson said. Also, donations were solicited to restore a small pond and to landscape the property. The amount raised fell far short of the amount needed for the entire project, and only the pond project, including drainage into and away from it, were completed.

It will take seven years for the town to complete the quit claim process and get the property title, Johnson said. Residents of the condominiums have been notified of the plans and have registered no objections, he added.

The town plans to make the property accessible with walking trails but will preserve the natural environment for small animals that live there now.

Eventually, Johnson said, the town hopes to connect this park with the small pocket park on Lake Drive and with Laurel Green via a greenway network.

<p>The town of Laurel Park has gained control of an overgrown 6.6-acre tract on Lake Drive. The town's goal is to clean up the property next to Laurel Park Villas this spring and maintain it as a nature park, Mayor Henry Johnson said Tuesday.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Because the property was set aside as a natural area when the condominium development was approved, it can't be developed, Johnson said. It essentially has been abandoned, he said.</p><p>Johnson said town attorney Sam Neill looked into several options through which the town could acquire the property, each with advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, Neill recommended the property be acquired through a process called adverse possession, Johnson said.</p><p>The process allows the town to claim the property with a quit-claim deed, maintain it and post signs on the site. Signs have already been erected on the property, the mayor said.</p><p>Years ago, there was a lake at the site, known as Rhododendron Lake or Laurel Park Lake, that was "the focal point of recreational and social life in Laurel Park," Johnson said.</p><p>Old pictures show the beach, slide and diving platforms, pavilion and an inn.</p><p>The mayor said that in the early 1980s, the developers of Laurel Park Villas acquired the lake and surrounding property to meet Laurel Park's zoning density requirements, then six units per acre.</p><p>As the condominiums were built, shares in the lake property were deeded to the owners and offered to other property owners surrounding the lake. Later, the lake's dam was breached because of its deteriorated condition, high cost to repair and threat of fines from government agencies.</p><p>To enhance and maintain the appearance of the lake bed property, a nonprofit corporation, Lake Park Association, was formed in the mid- to late 1980s. Owners were asked to deed back their shares in the lake property to the association, Johnson said.</p><p>Many but probably not all owners did so, Johnson said. Also, donations were solicited to restore a small pond and to landscape the property. The amount raised fell far short of the amount needed for the entire project, and only the pond project, including drainage into and away from it, were completed.</p><p>It will take seven years for the town to complete the quit claim process and get the property title, Johnson said. Residents of the condominiums have been notified of the plans and have registered no objections, he added.</p><p>The town plans to make the property accessible with walking trails but will preserve the natural environment for small animals that live there now.</p><p>Eventually, Johnson said, the town hopes to connect this park with the small pocket park on Lake Drive and with Laurel Green via a greenway network.</p><p>Contact Todd at Mark.Todd@hendersonvillenews.com.</p>